iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
On an installed Ventoy USB drive, adding an ISO is a matter of copying the file to the drive’s large image-storage partition. Removing one means deleting that file. You do not normally reinstall Ventoy, reformat the drive, or run a special “refresh” utility. If a deleted ISO still appears in the boot menu, empty your operating system’s recycle bin or trash, because the file may still exist there.
The short procedure
Ventoy separates its boot files from the storage area where you keep operating-system images. After installation, use this routine:
- Open the larger first partition on the USB drive. This is the partition intended for ISO files.
- Leave the small partition named
VTOYEFIunchanged; it contains Ventoy’s boot files. - Copy an ISO file into the larger partition, either at its top level or inside a folder.
- To remove it, delete that ISO from the larger partition.
- Boot from the USB again and select the image from Ventoy’s menu. If a deleted image remains listed, empty the system recycle bin or trash and boot Ventoy again.
Ventoy searches directories recursively, so folders are optional. Its menu lists discovered image files alphabetically. The project’s getting-started guide describes the central operation plainly: “You just need to copy iso files to this partition.”
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhich Ventoy partition should contain ISO files?
A normal Ventoy installation creates two partitions that serve different purposes:
#1 Best Overall
- USB-C 2-in-1 storage OTG: The Lexar JumpDrive Dual Drive D40E features USB Type-A and Type-C connectors in a slim, portable form factor for easy device compatibility
- Transfer speeds up to 100MB/s: Based on internal testing, performance may vary depending upon the host device, interface, and usage conditions. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes
- Plug and Play: Widely compatible with USB Type-C smartphones, tablets, laptops, Macs, and traditional Type-A devices, no software installation required. The 360° swivel design allows for easy switching between connectors without the hassle of losing a cap
- Durable & Compact: The Lexar D40E USB memory stick features a metal enclosure, withstands temperatures from 0° to 50° C (32°F to 122°F), and is lightweight at 26g with dimensions of 70.4 x 16.9 x 11.7mm
- Security & Warranty: Securely protects files using an advanced security software solution with 256-bit AES encryption. Backed by a Lexar 3-year limited warranty
| Partition | Purpose | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| Larger first partition | Stores ISO files and other image files | Copy, organize, and delete your files here |
VTOYEFI (small EFI partition) |
Contains Ventoy’s boot files | Do not use it for ISO storage or modify its contents |
The disk-layout documentation explains this arrangement in more detail at Ventoy’s disk-layout page. File managers can display the two partitions as separate volumes, although the exact names and drive letters depend on your operating system. Select the volume with substantially more free space, not the small EFI volume.
If you cannot see the large partition, do not immediately format the drive. Check Disk Management on Windows, Disk Utility on macOS, or your Linux file manager’s volume list to confirm whether the partition is mounted. Formatting or repartitioning can destroy the existing Ventoy layout and stored files.
Before changing an existing Ventoy drive
Confirm that Ventoy is already installed
This article covers file management after the USB has a working Ventoy installation. You should be able to open the large partition and see ordinary files and folders. If the drive is completely blank, has only an unrecognized partition, or does not boot to a Ventoy menu, it may need installation or repair rather than an ISO copy.
Understand the installation warning
The destructive operation is the initial Ventoy installation, not ordinary copying and deleting. Ventoy’s official guide warns that choosing a drive for installation formats that selected drive and loses its existing data. Back up anything important and verify the target disk before installing Ventoy. Once the two-partition layout is in place, adding or removing an ISO is ordinary file management.
Check available capacity
An ISO is copied as a complete file, so the large partition must have at least as much free space as the image, plus room for any other files you keep there. A copy that stops partway can leave an incomplete image that may appear in a file manager but cannot boot reliably. Wait for the copy operation to finish and verify the resulting file size before disconnecting the drive.
Rank #2
- High-speed USB 3.0 performance of up to 150MB/s(1) [(1) Write to drive up to 15x faster than standard USB 2.0 drives (4MB/s); varies by drive capacity. Up to 150MB/s read speed. USB 3.0 port required. Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device, usage conditions, and other factors; 1MB=1,000,000 bytes]
- Transfer a full-length movie in less than 30 seconds(2) [(2) Based on 1.2GB MPEG-4 video transfer with USB 3.0 host device. Results may vary based on host device, file attributes and other factors]
- Transfer to drive up to 15 times faster than standard USB 2.0 drives(1)
- Sleek, durable metal casing
- Easy-to-use password protection for your private files(3) [(3)Password protection uses 128-bit AES encryption and is supported by Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Mac OS X v10.9 plus; Software download required for Mac, visit the SanDisk SecureAccess support page]
How to add an ISO to a Ventoy USB
Step 1: Open the image-storage partition
- Connect the Ventoy USB drive.
- Open the larger partition in your file manager. On Windows this is normally the larger removable-drive letter; on Linux or macOS it appears as the mounted data volume.
- Do not open the small
VTOYEFIpartition for this task.
If several removable drives are connected, identify the Ventoy drive by its capacity and existing Ventoy layout before copying anything.
Step 2: Copy the complete ISO
- Locate the ISO on your computer.
- Copy it to the large Ventoy partition using your normal file manager. You can place it directly in the partition’s root or inside a new folder.
- Wait until the operating system reports that the copy is complete. Do not unplug the USB while data is still being written.
There is no Ventoy-specific import command. The file itself is the item Ventoy discovers. The project’s documentation says that it recursively searches directories, which means a structure such as /Linux/Distributions/example.iso works just as a file placed in the root.
Step 3: Organize multiple images (optional)
Folders are useful when a drive contains many installers, rescue environments, or utility images. Use names that make sense to you, such as Linux, Windows, or Recovery. Ventoy still searches below those folders and presents the discovered images in alphabetical order. Folder organization does not require reinstalling Ventoy or changing the boot partition.
Step 4: Boot and verify the entry
Safely eject the USB when the copy is finished, then boot the computer from that USB using its firmware boot selector. Ventoy should scan the storage partition and show the new ISO in its menu. Because entries are alphabetized, a file may not appear at the bottom of the list even when it was copied last.
How to remove an ISO from the Ventoy boot menu
Step 1: Delete the file from the large partition
- Connect the USB and open the larger Ventoy data partition.
- Navigate to the ISO’s folder, if you used folders.
- Select the exact ISO and delete it using your operating system’s normal file operation.
- Wait for the deletion to finish, then safely eject the drive.
Deleting an ISO does not uninstall Ventoy and does not affect the small VTOYEFI partition. It only removes that image from the set of files Ventoy can discover.
Rank #3
- What You Get - 2 pack 64GB genuine USB 2.0 flash drives, 12-month warranty and lifetime friendly customer service
- Great for All Ages and Purposes – the thumb drives are suitable for storing digital data for school, business or daily usage. Apply to data storage of music, photos, movies and other files
- Easy to Use - Plug and play USB memory stick, no need to install any software. Support Windows 7 / 8 / 10 / Vista / XP / Unix / 2000 / ME / NT Linux and Mac OS, compatible with USB 2.0 and 1.1 ports
- Convenient Design - 360°metal swivel cap with matt surface and ring designed zip drive can protect USB connector, avoid to leave your fingerprint and easily attach to your key chain to avoid from losing and for easy carrying
- Brand Yourself - Brand the flash drive with your company's name and provide company's overview, policies, etc. to the newly joined employees or your customers
Step 2: Boot Ventoy again
Start the computer from the USB and inspect the menu. Ventoy scans the current contents of its storage partition during startup, so a file that was genuinely removed should no longer be listed.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Step 3: Empty the recycle bin when necessary
On systems that move deleted files to a recycle bin or trash, a normal delete may not immediately remove the ISO from disk. Ventoy’s FAQ documents this exact cause of a stale menu entry. Empty the recycle bin or trash while the USB is connected, then safely eject and boot Ventoy again. The file must be removed from the USB’s recycle-bin directory, not merely hidden from the ordinary folder view.
If the entry remains after the recycle bin is empty, reconnect the drive and verify that you deleted the correct copy. A second ISO with a similar name in another folder will produce its own menu entry.
How Ventoy discovers files and updates its menu
Ventoy does not require a database entry for every ISO. At boot, it searches the storage partition and its subdirectories for supported image files, then builds the menu from what it finds. This explains three practical behaviors:
- An ISO can be stored in the root or nested in folders.
- Moving an ISO to another folder changes where it is found but does not require a Ventoy reinstall.
- Deleting an ISO removes it only when the operating system has actually removed the file, rather than placing it in a recycle bin that remains on the USB.
There is no separate routine file-system refresh step described for ordinary additions and removals. Copy the file, complete the operation, safely eject the device, and start Ventoy again. Reinstalling Ventoy just to make a newly copied ISO appear risks unnecessary data loss and is not part of the normal workflow.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #4
- GOOD VALUE PACKAGE - 1 Pack 32GB Memory Stick USB 2.0 Flash Drives with great cost performance and high quality.
- BIG CAPACITY - The available capacity: 29.10GB-29.8GB, You can save the data of movies, music, photos, designs, programs, manuals, handouts in a high speed.Good performance in digital data storing, transferring and sharing with families, friends, workmates, clients and machines.
- EASY TO USE & PLUG AND WORK - Support windows 7 / 8 / 10 / Vista / XP / 2000 / ME / NT Linux and Mac OS, Compatible with USB2.0 and below.
- TWISTTURN DESIGN & EASY CARRY - The metal clip rotates 360° round the ABS plastic body which with rubber oil skin feeling finish. The capless design can avoid lossing of cap, and providing efficient protection to the USB port.
- WARRANTY & SUPPORT - SIMMAX logo is laser printed on the USB connector surface, our products are of good quality and we promise that any problem about the product within one year since you buy.
Choosing or changing the storage filesystem
Most users should keep the filesystem already used by the large Ventoy partition. Filesystem choice matters mainly when you are setting up the drive or deliberately reformatting it for a compatibility reason. Ventoy’s official disk-layout and FAQ pages provide these constraints:
| Filesystem situation | Documented characteristic | Practical implication |
|---|---|---|
| exFAT (Ventoy default) | Ventoy defaults to exFAT, and its disk-layout guidance describes it as having better compatibility across Windows, Linux, and Mac. | A sensible general-purpose choice when the drive will be moved among those operating systems. |
| XFS or an ext filesystem | The disk-layout documentation warns that these are unavailable in Windows and cannot be used to install Windows. | Do not choose one if you need to manage the drive from Windows or boot a Windows installer from it. |
| Supported reformatting | The FAQ states that supported reformatting requires a cluster size of at least 2048. | Follow Ventoy’s documented formatting requirements rather than selecting an arbitrary cluster size. |
Changing the filesystem is a setup or migration decision, not a requirement for adding one more ISO. Reformatting can erase the partition’s contents, so copy any images and personal files elsewhere first and consult the current Ventoy FAQ and disk-layout documentation for the supported procedure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting missing or unusable ISO entries
The ISO does not appear in the menu
- Wrong partition: Confirm that the file is on the large data partition, not
VTOYEFI. - Copy incomplete: Return to the computer where you copied the file and compare its completed size with the original. A failed or interrupted copy may leave a partial file.
- Nested location overlooked: Check every folder. Ventoy searches recursively, so the file may be listed alphabetically under a name you did not expect.
- Drive not safely ejected: Reconnect the USB, allow pending writes to finish, and eject it through the operating system before trying again.
- Unsupported or incorrectly identified image: Verify that you copied the intended ISO rather than a shortcut, archive, or download that has not finished.
The ISO appears but will not boot
Seeing an entry only proves that Ventoy found a file; it does not guarantee that the image itself is valid or compatible with every computer. Ventoy’s FAQ recommends checking whether the image is corrupted and following the project’s checksum instructions. Obtain the checksum published by the image provider when one is available, calculate the checksum of your local file with your operating system’s checksum utility, and compare the values exactly. If they differ, download the image again instead of troubleshooting the USB layout first.
A valid checksum still does not promise that every ISO boots on every firmware configuration. Some images have their own boot requirements, and hardware firmware may impose Secure Boot or other restrictions. Treat Ventoy’s file discovery and the ISO’s own boot support as separate questions: first verify that the image is complete, then consult the image publisher’s boot guidance for hardware-specific issues.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchA deleted ISO still appears
- Open the large partition and search for the file in its original folder.
- Check the operating system’s recycle bin or trash for an item located on the Ventoy USB.
- Empty that bin, safely eject the drive, and start Ventoy again.
- If the entry is still present, look for another copy with the same or a similar name in a different subfolder.
This behavior is usually a file-removal issue, not a reason to reinstall Ventoy.
Best Value
- 【16GB Flash Drive】USB flash drives with 16GB capacity, meet your needs of daily use on work, school, home and travelling for photos, music, videos, files storage and transfer. IMEASON thumb drives can be used to store different files, easy to data backup.
- 【Metal Swivel Cap Design】USB thumb drive is metal swivel cover provides extra protection for the usb thumbdrive connector, no usb drive cap to lose; keychain design makes it easier to carry without worrying lose it.
- 【Wide Compatibility】USB drive supports Windows 7/8/10/11 / Vista / XP / Unix / 2000 / ME / NT Linux and Mac OS, also Supports USB 2.0 and 1.1 ports. USB Stick support TV, desktop, notebook computer, car, audio and other device. The USB Memory Stick is your great data storage and transfer companion with traveling and working.
- 【Easy to use】usb memory stick is plug and play without any software installation. Just simply plug the Flashdrive into the port of your USB-compatible devices such as computer, laptop to start data storage or transmission.
- 【What You Get】16 GB USB Flash Drive Thumb Drive, The default format of the usb storage flash drive is FAT32.
The large partition is not accessible
Stop before formatting. A missing drive letter or unmounted volume can be an operating-system mounting problem. Use the system’s disk-management tool to identify the Ventoy device by capacity and inspect its partitions. Preserve the small EFI partition and any needed data while resolving the mount issue. If the partition has been accidentally reformatted or the layout damaged, recover important files from backup before attempting a fresh Ventoy installation.
Keeping a multi-ISO Ventoy drive maintainable
Use descriptive, stable filenames
Ventoy’s menu is alphabetical, so concise names make large collections easier to scan. Include the distribution or tool name and, when useful, its release identifier. Avoid changing a filename while a copy is in progress. Renaming a completed ISO is an ordinary file operation; Ventoy will discover the renamed file the next time it scans the drive.
Separate categories into folders
Folders reduce clutter without changing how Ventoy finds images. Keep operating-system installers, recovery environments, and diagnostic tools in separate directories. Because Ventoy scans recursively, you do not need to duplicate an ISO in the root for it to be bootable.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Track free space and removable-drive identity
When several USB drives are connected, confirm the capacity and partition layout before copying or deleting. Keep enough free space for the largest image you expect to add. A drive that is nearly full can turn a routine copy into an incomplete file and a misleading menu entry.
Check the project’s current version information
Ventoy’s homepage displayed a Ventoy 1.1.18 release notice dated October 9, 2026, at the time of this article’s preparation. Release information can change, so check the current Ventoy homepage or download page when you are deciding whether an update is relevant. Updating Ventoy is a separate maintenance action from copying or deleting ISO files; do not perform it merely to add or remove an image.
Keep a backup of irreplaceable data
The Ventoy data partition is convenient removable storage, but it is still a USB device that can fail or be lost. Keep original ISO downloads and personal files somewhere else when they matter. This is especially important before any installation, repartitioning, or filesystem change.
What Ventoy can and cannot guarantee
Ventoy’s homepage reports that the project has tested more than 1,400 image files. That is a project claim, not an independent benchmark, a compatibility percentage, or a guarantee that every ISO will boot on your hardware. Copying an image is therefore the correct first step, but a successful copy should not be confused with a verified boot result.
Recommended Free Tools
For routine management, the reliable boundary is simple: Ventoy owns the boot files in VTOYEFI, while you manage ISO files on the large partition as ordinary files. Preserve that separation, allow copies and deletions to finish, and use checksum verification when an image will not boot.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
